Team Sky's Greg Henderson Powers to Stage 2 Win in 2011 Paris-Nice

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Team Sky's Greg Henderson Powers to Stage 2 Win in 2011 Paris-Nice

Team Sky's Greg Henderson powered to an impressive stage win in stage two of the 2011 Paris-Nice earlier today.

Team Sky's Greg Henderson powered to an impressive stage win in stage two of the 2011 Paris-Nice earlier today.

The New Zealander was set up perfectly by teammate Geraint Thomas who surged to the front in the closing stages at the end of the 199 kilometer route from Monfort l'Amaury to Amilly.

The pair powered past the HTC-HighRoad train and Henderson then unleashed his finishing kick with 250 meters to go to the finish line and proved strongest in what was a boldly contested sprint to the line, with Matthew Goss (Team HTC-HighRoad) finishing second behind Henderson and Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) placing third, just ahead of Heinrich Haussler (Castelli-sponsored Team Garmin-Cervelo), Peter Sagan (Team Liquigas) and Romain Feillu (Team Vacansoleil).

Thomas De Gendt (Team Vacansoleil) kept the leader's yellow jersey after attacking with just under a mile to go in today's stage, but finishing in the main pack.

Henderson also won a stage in last year's Paris-Nice and was delighted to be back on the top step on the podium.

After being celebrated on the podium Henderson told Roadcycling.com/Roadcycling.mobi "It's always special to win at such an amazing race. I had a great lead-out from Geraint, he was just fantastic. He was just sitting there waiting and then away he went with 500 metres to go and I just took off around 250 metres out. It was a really long sprint but I was lucky to hold the field all the way to the line."

Team Sky sports director Sean Yates commented "Greg got a lot of confidence from the first stage when he said his legs felt good and he put out some good power. That showed today and it was a fine performance. G (Geraint Thomas) is in fine fettle too and when it comes to a lead-out like that, he's the man. He delivered him spot-on and it was a great effort."

Team Saxo Bank-SunGard sprinter Lucas Sebastian Haedo had high hopes for success in this year's Paris-Nice but he was forced to abandon the race today, as he was hit by a police motor bike from behind and crashed. The Argentinean's knee was stitched together at a local hospital and he is ok under the circumstances but very disappointed about leaving the race like this.

"Unfortunately, Sebastian was hit by a police motor bike on its way through the field to lead the pack in the right direction and by accident, he was hit and crashed. It has been a very nervous day in general with lots of wind and a nervous peloton which kind of make things difficult for both riders and the organizers trying to protect them. Now, we're looking forward to the coming days. Our guys are motivated and in good shape" Team Saxo Bank-SunGard sports director Bradley McGee commented.